Respites

The Bread and Butter of It All
Ivy F. DeShield, contributing editor
ivydeshield@gmail.com

Have you begun Christmas shopping yet? The spirit is already in the air. Pardon me; I’m not overlooking Thanksgiving’s delights: spiced fried turkey, sweet potato soufflé, green bean casserole, cranberry sauce and pumpkin pie, but I must admit that I have already visited a local shopping outlet with the express intention of reveling in pre-holiday cheer, sipping an eggnog latte and fervently wishing to decrease my ever-growing Christmas gift list. The shopping locale of choice: Leesburg Corner Premium Outlets, located in historic Leesburg, Virginia, just 15 minutes from Dulles Airport. I have to admit that this was my first visit to this shopping gallery of more than 100 well-known stores, including several upscale designers, like Burberry, Kate Spade, Theory, Michael Kors, etc. I was glad my Mother convinced me to accompany her last weekend. We both needed a chance to unwind and catch up on our regular one-on-one gossip/advice sessions. This is our bread and butter.

Needless to say, we started the day early but still managed to arrive after the crowds had already begun pouring into the stores. Some, loaded with assortments of colorful, labeled bags, were already returning to their cars but only to unload and start the process anew. And they’re off (again)! Despite starting behind the pack, my Mother and I managed to gain momentum with each passing hour and realized that we had hit almost every store of interest by sunset. We even snuck a 30-minute lunch/coffee pit stop into the mix without breaking stride. Somehow, sweet lattes and frappucinos with whipped cream clear the mind and give you that extra boost of energy to make one last run or try for yet another unbelievably I just can’t pass this up good deal. And once again, I was faced with the dilemma of choosing between shopping for items on my list and goodies for myself. I mean, after all, you can’t cruise the mall without having a bit of fun. I suppose this is why I tried on a $4000 black shearling Burberry double-breasted jacket that had been marked down to the (with heavy sarcasm) all-time low of $1400. Now, this may work for some people’s budgets, but obviously not mine. So why try it on, my co-worker later asked me. ‘Tis the season, I responded and the chance that that strikingly gorgeous hunk of a coat might just miraculously appear underneath my Christmas tree. But seriously, unless someone strikes it rich or clunks my Mother upside the head before Santa arrives on his sleigh, I am definitely out of luck in that department. Oh well, merrily on our way...

After completing our last rounds for the evening and reluctantly unfolding out of the oversized leather lounge chairs in Restoration Hardware, we called it a night. The first leg of Holiday shopping under our belt, my Mother and I felt drained, but accomplished. Our Christmas lists had received their first mark-offs of the season, and we were ready to hide our purchases and lay our heads to rest. I think it a bit too early to wish for visions of dancing sugar plums, but another day of mother-daughter holiday shopping is not so far-fetched. I savor these moments, especially at this time of year. If you are fortunate enough to have those you love within arms reach, make sure you find a moment in your busy schedules to share the joys of the season with them. Go shopping, take a holiday cooking class, create gift baskets, volunteer at a local soup kitchen on Thanksgiving or Christmas, prepare meals for elderly family members, etc. Whatever you do, do it together, and enjoy! After all, ‘tis the season.